The Douro, Porto & Salamanca - MS Douro Elegance

People looking for the best deal or bargain for a European River Cruise turn to Riviera River Cruise. In addition to expanded European River Itineraries Riviera River Cruises now introduces solo travel cruises throughout Europe. Many travelers on Riviera Cruises are British providing an opportunity to meet and mingle with new friends on your cruise. Pavlus Travel offers Riviera guests a complimentary alcohol beverage package, ship board credit and other amenities which has resulted in over the years Pavlus Travel being among the largest sellers of Riviera River Cruises from the United States. Pavlus has cruise deals and last minute cruise deals with significant discounts.
Call Us 800.528.9300

The Douro, Porto & Salamanca

MS Douro Elegance



Tour Description:

Commencing in the Roman city of Porto, the home of Port wine, Portugal’s once wild river Douro has been tamed by locks into resembling a series of finger lakes, adding greatly to the valley's ambience. Leaving behind the Atlantic influenced greenery of the coast you are soon immersed in a Mediterranean land of olives, vines, and picturesque, medieval hilltop villages. Our destination is the higher reaches of the valley from where we visit Salamanca - home of one of Europe’s oldest universities, two of its finest cathedrals, Spain’s finest city square and even the Inquisition! You will adore the away-from-it-all experience and visit some of Iberia’s most beautiful medieval towns, monasteries and vineyards, and feel you have been away for months!

Map for The Douro, Porto & Salamanca - MS Douro Elegance
Click for larger view.

Dates & Pricing

Tuesday 09 Apr 24 — Tuesday 16 Apr 24Starting at $3,899 Get a Quote
Tuesday 16 Apr 24 — Tuesday 23 Apr 24Starting at $4,049 Get a Quote
Tuesday 23 Apr 24 — Tuesday 30 Apr 24Starting at $4,049 Get a Quote
Tuesday 30 Apr 24 — Tuesday 07 May 24Starting at $2,899 Get a Quote
Tuesday 07 May 24 — Tuesday 14 May 24Starting at $3,299 Get a Quote
Tuesday 14 May 24 — Tuesday 21 May 24Starting at $3,299 Get a Quote
Tuesday 21 May 24 — Tuesday 28 May 24Starting at $3,449 Get a Quote
Tuesday 28 May 24 — Tuesday 04 Jun 24Starting at $3,449 Get a Quote
Tuesday 04 Jun 24 — Tuesday 11 Jun 24Starting at $3,449 Get a Quote
Tuesday 11 Jun 24 — Tuesday 18 Jun 24Starting at $3,299 Get a Quote
Tuesday 18 Jun 24 — Tuesday 25 Jun 24Starting at $3,299 Get a Quote
Tuesday 25 Jun 24 — Tuesday 02 Jul 24Starting at $3,299 Get a Quote
Tuesday 02 Jul 24 — Tuesday 09 Jul 24Starting at $3,149 Get a Quote
Tuesday 09 Jul 24 — Tuesday 16 Jul 24Starting at $2,899 Get a Quote
Tuesday 23 Jul 24 — Tuesday 30 Jul 24Starting at $2,649 Get a Quote
Tuesday 30 Jul 24 — Tuesday 06 Aug 24Starting at $2,649 Get a Quote
Tuesday 13 Aug 24 — Tuesday 20 Aug 24Starting at $2,649 Get a Quote
Tuesday 20 Aug 24 — Tuesday 27 Aug 24Starting at $2,849 Get a Quote
Tuesday 27 Aug 24 — Tuesday 03 Sep 24Starting at $3,049 Get a Quote
Tuesday 10 Sep 24 — Tuesday 17 Sep 24Starting at $3,499 Get a Quote
Tuesday 24 Sep 24 — Tuesday 01 Oct 24Starting at $3,499 Get a Quote
Tuesday 01 Oct 24 — Tuesday 08 Oct 24Starting at $3,299 Get a Quote
Tuesday 08 Oct 24 — Tuesday 15 Oct 24Starting at $3,049 Get a Quote
Tuesday 15 Oct 24 — Tuesday 22 Oct 24Starting at $2,899 Get a Quote
Tuesday 22 Oct 24 — Tuesday 29 Oct 24Starting at $2,649 Get a Quote
Tuesday 29 Oct 24 — Monday 04 Nov 24Starting at $2,199 Get a Quote


Destination & Sightseeing

Seven nights on board in your choice of luxury cabin or suite, with river views
Eight guided visits and tours including a full-day excursion to Salamanca with a walking tour; lunch and a flamenco show; a guided tour of Porto with a wine-tasting; tasting at a typical Portuguese quinta; and visits to Castelo Rodrigo, Mateus Palace gardens and Lamego
Traditional Portuguese folk music show
All meals on board from dinner on your day of arrival through to breakfast on your day of departure, including welcome cocktails, a welcome dinner and the Captain’s Dinner
Five-star service from an English-speaking crew and knowledgeable local guides
Complimentary on-board tea and coffee
Complimentary on-board Wi-Fi
Services of a Riviera River Cruises cruise director


Click here to see our departures available exclusively for solo travelers

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - EMBARK IN PORTO
Embark the ship in Porto and familiarize yourself with your five-star floating hotel.From the moment you board, the welcoming crew are at your service. In no time you’ll be settled into your luxurious, thoughtfully furnished accommodation and familiarising yourself with all the first-class aspects of this floating boutique hotel.

DAY 2 - PINHÃO
As dawn breaks over Porto the adventure begins as our elegant vessel commences her stately passage upstream. Your first delicious breakfast is served by the attentive crew and whilst you linger over another coffee, you can really start to unwind as we leave the city skyline far behind. Head up on deck to appreciate the changing landscape in all its splendor as the river weaves its way between the lush hillsides; from the first morning on board, it’s very apparent that the Douro is one of Europe’s most photogenic river valleys and the topography has prevented the building of extensive riverside roads.  Thoughts turn to lunch, so reconvene with your fellow travelers in the elegant restaurant – its lovely panoramic windows ensure you won’t miss any of the spectacular views gliding by before we arrive later in the pretty little town of Pinhão. We enjoy a visit to a local historic quinta to learn all about the stages of wine production, from the planting of the vines, harvesting, the wine-making process and finally tasting and labeling. No visit would be complete without sampling some of their excellent produce of course, so we enjoy a tasting before returning to the ship. Tonight, as you enter the restaurant for the Welcome Dinner, feel free to choose your table. We are moored in Pinhão overnight.

DAY 3 - CASTELO RODRIGO
As dawn breaks, early risers can witness the ship’s graceful departure. Relax over a leisurely breakfast whilst the ever-changing scenery idly slips by through the restaurant’s superb panoramic windows. The Douro was once a wild river, notoriously challenging to navigate, especially for the traditional flat-bottomed boats, which often foundered in its waters. Today it has been tamed by a system of dams and locks, which have raised the water level to produce a topography reminiscent of Scotland’s lochs that enhances the valley’s charm. As we cruise into ever more rural territory towards the Spanish border, the river here is at its most peaceful. It’s the perfect time to take a refreshing dip in the Sun Deck pool – a rare treat on a cruise ship – or catch up on some reading, perhaps with a cool pre-lunch glass of vinho verde, the local, gently fizzy white wine. Portuguese wine is simply outstanding but production is low, so the best is rarely exported. Our on-board wine list includes some excellent regional wines and the friendly and attentive restaurant staff will gladly guide you through them. Do experiment a little and you’ll be greatly rewarded. This afternoon we visit Castelo Rodrigo, a delightful 12th-century walled village tucked away in the picturesque highland ranges bordering Spain. Its church was a resting place on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and it is said that Saint Francis himself stayed here. The views are simply stupendous, stretching across almost-deserted ochre hillsides. This evening after dinner we will see a celebratory vintage port wine opened in the traditional way, then head up on to the sun deck to listen to the unmistakable sound of crickets and breathe in the scents from the surrounding valley slopes that pervade the warm evening air.

DAY 4 - SALAMANCA
Today we visit historic Salamanca, one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites on this journey, regarded by many Spaniards as their nation’s most beautiful city. Founded by the Romans, who erected its 389-yard-long bridge, Salamanca is mostly built from local sandstone that emanates a gorgeous rose-coloured glow in the sunlight. Perched on a hill on a bend in the serene River Tormes, the city is a picture of tranquillity but its history is turbulent, having been successively fought over by Hannibal, the Moors, then the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon. Salamanca is dominated by its two cathedrals and its university. Founded in 1218, the university is the oldest in Spain and was one of the civilised world’s most important seats of study for over 400 years. The Spanish Inquisition’s records are still kept here, and as early as the 16th century it boasted some 12,000 students. Seeing its immaculately preserved lecture halls with their vaulted ceilings, it’s easy to conjure an image of Christopher Columbus addressing the learned men of the day or legal experts constructing the international laws that originate here. On arrival in Salamanca you are free to explore as you wish. You may choose to linger, admiring the ornate interiors of its cathedrals – the more recent dates from the 16th-century – or explore its tiny streets, medieval squares, traditional shops, gardens and marketplaces. The main square, the Plaza Mayor, was built in the 18th-century in Spanish Baroque style with colonnaded walkways all around at ground level, ideal for finding a shaded spot to sit and watch the locals pass by. Over lunch you enjoy a traditional flamenco show. This afternoon we enjoy a guided tour of the city seeing the main sights.

DAY 5 - MATEUS PALACE GARDENS
One of the benefits of life aboard a river cruise is the sheer sense of relaxation it brings; our elegant ship slips its moorings during breakfast, after which there is plenty of time for a spot of pampering in the on-board spa, or simply watch the seamless changing of the riverbank scenery passing by from the comfort of a cozy seat in the lounge. We’re in port wine territory, where the lush hillsides have largely given way to a patterned landscape of terraced vineyards. Inland from the Atlantic, the climate has changed, too; it’s noticeably warmer and drier, while the area has a Mediterranean appearance with orangey, earthy colors replacing verdant greens. After another superb lunch on board, we cruise into the small town of Peso da Régua, from where we visit the grounds of the splendid Mateus Palace. Anyone familiar with Mateus Rosé and its characteristic ‘squashed’ bottle will recognize the palace from the label. Whatever your opinion of the wine, it is an impressive 18th-century Baroque edifice, mirrored in its stunning pond, surrounded by landscaped French gardens. This evening we take the short drive to the 126-acre Quinta da Pacheca for dinner. Enjoying dramatic views over the Douro, it dates back to the 18th century and is simply one of the most beautiful and distinguished properties in the region. It is also notable as being the first quinta – in 1738 – to bottle wine under the name of its owner, the aristocrat Mariana Pacheco Pereira. You have time to wander through part of the estate before sampling a selection of its finest wines at dinner.

DAY 6 - LAMEGO
This morning after breakfast we take a short drive to historic Lamego, home of Portugal’s sparkling wine, Raposeira, and one of the first places to be reclaimed from the Moors in the 12th century. Situated atop the hill overlooking this lovely town is the ancient Sanctuary of Our Lady of Remedies church, its stairways adorned with attractive azulejos, the country’s characteristic painted ceramic tiles. By the time we return to our ship, our chef and his team will be adding the finishing touches to another delicious lunch, ready to be served as we depart for Entre-os-Rios. After lunch, there’s the perfect opportunity to take to the sun deck to enjoy the kaleidoscope of Douro views – or perhaps a spot of reading in the lounge over a cup of tea. This evening is the Captain’s Dinner, a truly memorable experience featuring exquisite regional specialties, followed by a colorful performance of traditional Portuguese folk music by a local cultural group.

DAY 7 - PORTO
There’s a perfect opportunity to avail yourself of some of the ship’s range of five-star facilities this morning – maybe a little gentle exercise in the fitness room before heading up to the sun deck to enjoy a coffee whilst chatting with newly-made friends as our ship makes a graceful arrival in Porto once more, passing under the city’s spectacular bridges. Porto is of course synonymous with wonderful port wine and all the famous port producers are here, such as Cálem, Sandeman and Ferreira, so a visit here would not be complete without a tour of one of them. You’ll learn about this fortified wine’s fascinating history and its close British connections. Port is made from grapes still pressed in the traditional way – by feet – then lovingly matured, sometimes for decades, before you can enjoy its subtle flavors. Of course, you’ll get the chance to sample various port styles at the end of our visit. After lunch on board we enjoy a guided tour of Porto. Strategically overlooking the Douro as it empties into the Atlantic, Portugal’s second largest city was originally a Roman town, but its wealth derived from its knowledge of the sea routes to India, with fortunes made from trading spices, silks and other fine goods. Our tour unveils some of its major and more surprising sights. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore the truly fascinating city; so perhaps return to the terraced streets of the old town and wander the sloping maze of winding, cobbled alleyways, soaking up the atmosphere whilst stopping to admire the lovely architecture, soaring bell towers, fine baroque churches, golden rooftops and beautiful tiles of this slice of traditional Portugal. Stop for a drink in a cozy café and be tempted by an array of delicious cakes and pastries – perhaps sample a pastel de nata, the traditional Portuguese custard tart. This evening, enjoy a final dinner on board expertly served by our restaurant staff under the supervision of the maître d’. Afterward, perhaps settle into the lounge to chat into the evening and reflect on the splendors of the remarkable River Douro – over a glass of port, of course.

DAY 8 - DISEMBARK IN PORTO
After breakfast, the crew bids you farewell before you disembark with memories of one of the most unspoilt corners of Europe.

Check Mark Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.

You're Invited. Exclusive Pavlus Riviera Cruise Offer. Up to $2,500 discount per cabin, Free Drink Package on carefully selected Riviera River Cruises. Plus for you, Pavlus Guarantees you the lowest Riviera River Cruise Price. We now have solo cabins and prices. Don't be left out for the best river cruise offer in Europe. Get Ready Call 800.528.9300.